The latest annual report from Amnesty International highlights the vulnerable position of women in much of South Asia.

The report says that governments, notably in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, show a bias against women by failing to investigate serious human rights abuses.

The report catalogues a series of abuses suffered by women in the region.

In Pakistan it says abuse against women is part of a wider picture of arbitrary arrests, torture and execution without legal process.

Women fight for their rights

The report accuses the government, the police and the judiciary of persistant bias.

It claims that hundreds of women and girls have been killed for allegedly dishonouring male relatives - by having sexual relations outside marriage, choosing a marriage partner against parental wishes, or seeking a divorce.

Often a mere allegation - without proof - leads to a killing.

Dowry deaths

Similarly in Bangladesh the report says the government has failed to protect women from acid attacks and dowry-related murders, or to investigate rape in custody by police.

Widespread abuse

Pakistan

Honour killings

Police and judicial bias

Bangladesh

Acid attacks

Dowry murders

Custodial rape

India

Attacks on economocially and socially weak

In one case the police in Rajshahi were said to have demanded a large bribe before agreeing to investigate the reported gang rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The report says attacks on socially and economically weaker sections of society in India were commonplace and often with the apparant connivance of the police and local authorities.

Again it says women were particularly vulnerable to abuse.

The report does sound a positive note in Sri Lanka where it says the government has taken steps to address past human rights violations by the security forces.

They include the exhumation of the remains of 15 people reported to have disappeared four years ago.

But it concludes by saying that torture remains a serious concern in the country.